Video of what NAPO said in Bogoso about 'galamsey' circulating on Tiktok has been doctored - Fiifi Boafo

Fiifi Boafo, the spokesperson for Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the running mate to the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) says a video circulating on social media indicating Dr Prempeh has promised that a future Bawumia led government will return all seized excavators during the government’s crackdown on illegal mining has been doctored.

In a press statement issued Wednesday evening, Mr Boafo explained that 

Dr Prempeh was addressing chiefs and residents of Prestea Huni Valley and Mpohor in the Western Region last Sunday.

Mr Boafo indicated that the statements attributed to Dr. Prempeh in the video were false and misleading.

“Dr. Prempeh did not say and I wish to state emphatically that he did not say that and the video in circulation is not a representation of what Dr. Prempeh said. It is actually doctored and it is not true that he said that,” Fiifi Boafo said in an earlier radio interview with Citi FM.

RE: WE WILL GIVE EVERYONE HIS EXCAVATOR

The Office of the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party has noted with concern, distortions by sections of the media, regarding a statement made by the Vice-Presidential Candidate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.

At a community engagement at Bogoso in the Prestea Huni Valley Constituency on Sunday, 8th September, 2024, Dr. Prempeh stated that Dr. Bawumia's administration will facilitate small-scale mining under strict regulations that ensure that the environment is not compromised.

We have however observed that some media outlets are alleging that he said, "We will give everyone his excavator to work in his concession to make money to support the economic growth of their communities"

This statement attributed to him is false.

The 20-minute full video footage of his submission did not contain what has been attributed to him. A doctored TikTok video in circulation claiming to be the source of the reportage does not reflect the statement made by the Vice-Presidential Candidate.

We wish to emphasize that Dr. Prempeh was talking about granting access to people interested in small scale mining and who could only do that in a responsible and sustainable manner in accordance with the laws of Ghana.

We urge the public to disregard the reportage.